nanowrimo days 11 + 12

Good Morning!

So sorry to have kept you all waiting. The great barn owl who occupies the position of Muse for me had flown the coop. I stared at my story for the past 2 days, but nothing came to me somehow. Anyway, he flew back today, so while he is here I shall try to make up for lost ground. Expect days 11+12, 13+14, and hopefully 15+16 to boot. Here's hoping!

As always, I look forward to your thoughts, comments, and possible critiques. :)

*Editors note* I've made some minor edits on the previous chapters for flow and sensibility, but they do not drastically change the story. I'd be happy to send them to curious readers though. :)

Walking down, she surveyed the main lodge room. The Wood Nymph had stepped off the stage to be replaced by the magician from their village. He was in the middle of a disappearing acorn trick, where a volunteer was onstage trying to guess which cup the acorn was in. Four of the tables were occupied, one by the Wood Nymph seated proudly, watching the badger with a look of boredom and mild disdain. A table near the center of the room had a motley group of vagabond types; a fox, a couple of large ferrets, and a hyena. The hyena was laughing at the volunteer, another fox, possibly from the same party. Their food mostly gone, there were several glasses and an empty pitcher in the middle of the table. They were all well armed and seemed like a group to avoid, Morika thought to herself nervously, padding down the steps as quiet as possible. A table near the front door held a tiger and a jaguar, deep in conversation. They didn’t even notice the stage or other members at the inn. Morika was glad they didn’t see her. She didn’t know how well her disguise would hold up against an actual jaguar. Her father sat at the last occupied table, near the kitchen, and as far as possible from the stage and magician, who was now tossing an ever growing number of rings into the air. Stepping down off the stairs, she walked over toward the kitchens, sitting down by her father. She glanced at the plates already on the table, mouth watering. Her father had ordered dinner for them both, two steaks, medium rare, steaming hot potatoes, and some fresh greens. Raylin had already started eating. For a while, neither spoke, paying close attention to filling their empty stomachs. Then, setting aside his now empty plate, her father leaned over to her. “We’ll hang out here a while longer, so as not to draw attention to ourselves, then go to our rooms. I was hoping to stay here a few days and see if word has reached the innkeeper about any other panthers coming this way, but that may be too risky. We’ll see what the magician decides to do. If he leaves, we may be safe here for a while. I still don’t like that he left our village unscathed, and seems to have beaten us here.” She nodded, the now familiar feeling of fear creeping up her spine. She wanted nothing more than to return to her room, locking the door behind her. Still, the wistful side of her was hoping the wood nymph would perform another song after the magician’s act. Half glancing at her father, she felt herself relax. He was tall, strong, and confident. He could have easily been a captain of the border guard had he chosen. Instead he taught at the school; herbs and medicine, and archery, though he was often called upon as a stand-in for sparring matches for advanced classes. He sat quietly, scanning each table and it’s occupants, keeping a paw on the dagger she knew lay under his cloak. His other paw had absently reached up to rest on his wounded shoulder, which was obviously still bothering him. She tsked under her breath. He would have to let her dress his wound with fresh cotton when they returned to their rooms. A sweet note interrupted her thoughts. Turning back to the stage she saw the wood nymph indeed had returned to the stage, and began to sing, twirling and spinning as she sang. The other guests turned their attention to the stage as well.Her dress seemed to shift in color, from a reddish hue, to a cool blue with white veins, then to a bright green, and finally a warm yellow. However, long before she finished, Raylin nudged her arm and gestured toward the stairs. Quietly they climbed the staircase and up to their rooms. For a split second Morika turned and glanced at the aging badger, and their eyes met. A spark of familiarity passed over his face, but a moment later it was gone, and he was watching the stage. She shuddered. Morika didn’t like the look he gave her, like he knew exactly who she was. She didn’t relax until she had bolted and locked her door. Sinking down on her bed, she pulled off her boots and dark cloak. She was tempted to tell her father about the badgers look, but decided she was being silly and over cautious. She sat down on the bed, exhausted, after such a late night. Before she knew it, she was asleep.Some part of dinner must not have settled right because Morika had very strange dreams. She dreamt she was back in the town of Mawr, playing with some of her classmates. Then from out of nowhere, large monsters appeared out of the trees. They surrounded Morika and her playmates and took them to the black lake. The lake itself was black as pitch, and as she watched, horrified, the lake began to writhe and boil, as if something large was under the water, rising to the surface. The silver badger came out of the mists of the forest, and pointed at her. “She’s the one! She will be the sacrifice for the great Uthark!” Then, the ground opened up beneath them and she fell… Morika bolted awake, as if a bucket of icey water was poured down her spine. She hugged herself, shaking, whimpering softly in the dark. She eventually fell asleep, and when she woke, she didn’t remember the dream at all.